TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Some of the tea party Republicans elected to Congress two years ago are seeing their beliefs put to the test as they campaign for second terms.
They're caught between their promises to rein in government spending and the demands of constituents who had grown accustomed to money and projects being steered back home.
In Michigan, freshman Dan Benishek has drawn criticism for voting to cut rural airline subsidies and failing to seek continued federal funding of an Olympic scholarship program in his district.
His Democratic opponent says Benishek is putting ideology ahead of his constituents' needs.
Benishek says voters sent him to Washington to reduce the deficit and that's what he's trying to do.
